3, 11-dioxygenated 17-carboxyethyl-9-halo-androst-4-en-17-ol lactones, 2-methyl compounds corresponding, and intermediates thereto



3,11-DIOXYGENATED 17-CARB0X YE'IHYL9- LO-ANDROST-4-EN-17-0L LACTONES, 'Z-METH- YL COMPOUNDS CORRESPONDING, AND lN-j- TERMEDIATES THERETO Edward A. Brown an'd John A. Celia, Skokie,

Ill., as-

fration of Delaware I g p No Drawing. Application April 6,1959 Serial No. 804,139 j 1 1 2 aim (C 2 723 This invention relates to optionally alkylated 3,ll-dioxygenated l7-carboxyalkyl-9-haloandrost-4-en-17-01 lactones and processes for the manufacture thereof. More particularly, this invention relates to compounds of the formula wherein Alk is' an alkylene oralkenyleneradical, R 'is hy drogen or a methylradical', X is halogen, and Z and Z" are carbonyl or hydroxymethylene radicals. I I j Among'the radicalscontemplated by Alk in the formula, those which contribute at least 2 and fewer than '4 carbon atoms are preferred, for example, ethylene, vinyl-- ene, trimethylene, and propenyle'ne I groupings, as" also radicals derived therefrom by the replacement of hydrogen therein with 1 or more lower alkyl groupings. The

halogens referred to by X in the formula are preferably those 'with atomic numbers less than 53, namely, fluorine, chlorine, and bromine. I

'Equivalent to theforegoing .lactones for purposes hydroxy acids and a i millimicrons with a molar extinction coeflicient of 15,900. 7

this invention are the corresponding their; alkali salts, of the" formula Alk-COOM CHa .The lactone's,,hydroxy acids,-and' salts hereinabove set:

forth are useful because of; their valuable pharmacological properties. For example, they are diuretics; being a adapted to block the elfect of desoxycorticosterone acetate from i thear sdq ssa i. be ab ain a -a .Q-,- s-.

ignors to G. D. Searle & Co'., Chicago, I ll., a'corpo- Unite ta Patento 2,925,416 Patented Feb. 16, 1960 "ice 1la,l7i3 dihydroxyandrost 4-en-3-one'lactone, an embodiment of the invention disclosed in.i='.an-application of John A. Celia, Serial No. 682,626,';filed September 9, 1957, which embodiment is a sole'development of the said John .A. Cella.

T e, following examples describe in detail certain of the compounds illustrativeof the present invention and methods which have been devised for theirmanufacture.

' However, the invention is not to be construed aslimited .thereby, either in'spirit or in scope, since it will be apparent tolthose skilled in the art of organic synthesis that many modifications, both of materials and of methods, may be practiced without departing from the purpose and intent of this disclosure. In the examples'hereinafter detailed, temperatures are given; in degrees centigrade and relative amounts of materials 'in pafits by weight, except as q otherwise noted. 7 1 7' Example 1 a A- y y QUB-dihydroxyandrost- 116m, 'duriiig whijch'time'afstream ofsterile ,air is passed through and the developing; culture is agitatedto produce hydroxyandrostl-en -ii one lactone dissolved in a minimal quantity of acetone is then introduced to bring the concentration offsteroid to l'part per 3000 parts of medium. Agitation with aeration at about 25 is thereupon rei sumed for 12 hours, at the end of which time the resultant mixture is extracted with dichloromethane. The extract is dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and stripped of solvent by distillation. -.The'-residual oi1, on trituration with anhydrous ether, crystallizes. Recrystallization from methanol afiords the 17a-(2-carboxyethyD-11a,

v The specific rotation of .a dioxane solution, referred. to

is +481 The product has thev formula.

amnion fonyloxyaildrost-4-en-3-one lactime.--To a'solution of 2 parts of l7u-(2-carboxyethyl)-11u,17fi-dihydroxyandrost- 4-en-3-one lactone hemimethanolate in 13 parts of redis:

tilled chloroform is added, with agitation, 2 parts of pyridine, followed over a period of approximately -10 minutes by a solution of 1 part of methanesulfonyl chloride in 3 temperature for 16 hours. It is then'diluted with 3f volumes of chloroform and washed fsuccessively.with' on urinary sodiumand potassium. Moreover, they are parts of chloroform-temperaturesbeing held in the range progestational agents. It follows ;that the intermediates :5 to 0 throughout. The resultant solution is allowed to warm to approximately, '5 and maintained .at that L 1 3. 1 7-d- (ZV-carbOxyethyIl 17fi-hdyroxy-1la-methylsul C. 17a-(2-carboxyethyl) 17/3 hydroxyandrosta 4,9 (I1)-dien-3-one lact0ne.T0 1.1 parts of anhydrous powdered sodium acetate at I10-11S is added 100' parts of glacial. acetic -acid,follo wed portionwise over a 5-minute period by 4 parts of 1'7Ez-(2-ca1'boxye'thyl)-I7fihydrqxy- 11u-methylsulfonyloxyandrost 4-en-3 one lactone. The resultant mixture is; maintained at 110-115 under reflux with occasional agitation for a total of 30 minutes, whereupon it is cooled to room temperatures and then diluted with 200 parts of water. Further. cooling to around. 5.",

causes precipitation of the desired 17a-(2-carboxyethyl.)

l7fi-hydroxyandrosta-,4,9 1 1 -dien-3-one lactone as tiny needles melting at 1555-157". Thismelting point can: I be raised by recrystallization from ethyl acetate to approximately 1575-158". The product has the formula.

D. 9m-brom0-17a-(2-carboxyethyl) 11 3,17fi-dihydr0xyandrost-4-en-3 one lact0ne.--To a solution of approximately 10 parts of l7a-(2-carboxyethyl)-17/8-hydr0xyandrosta-4,9(11)-dien-3-one lactone and 5 parts of N- bromoacetamide in 160 parts of purified dioxane is added, with agitation at room; temperatures, 16 parts of a 10% solution of perchloric acid. Agitation is maintained for 10 minutes longer, at which point 545 parts of aqueous 2% sodium bisulfite is introduced during approximately 3 minutes. The resultant mixture is cooled'to approximately 5 and filtered. The insoluble material thus separated is washed with water, dried. in, air, and recrystallized from ethanol to give 9a-bromo-17a-(2-carboxyethyl) -1 l B, 17 5-dihydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one lactone melting at'162-164. The product hasthe formula Example 2 9a-bromo-17a-(2-carb0xyethyl) androst Lena-35,115, 17fl-tri0l lactone.-A solution of 5 parts of sodium borohydride in 160 parts of methanol is added to a suspension of 7 parts of 9u-bromo-l7a-(2acarboxyethyD-115,

17 3-dihydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one lactone in 560 parts of' methanol. The resultant mixture is let stand for 45 minutes, whereupon unreacted borohydride is decomposed by the cautious addition of a solution of parts of acetic acid in 300 parts of water; The mixture thus obtained is concentrated to approximately /2 volume by distillation and then diluted with73000 parts of water. The solid which separates on standing is filtered OE and dried in air. This material is the desired 9cz-bl'Om0-17a- (Z-carboxyethyl) androst 4-ene-3fi,11B,17,8-triol lactone,

of the formula Example 3 A. 17a-,(2-carb0xyethyl) 9,8,115-epoxy-17B hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-0ne lactone-To asolution of 2 parts of freshly fused potassium acetate in 16 parts of absolute ethanol at the boiling point under reflux is added a solution of 3 parts of 9a-bromo-l7m-i(Z-carboxyethyl)-11,8,

17 8-dihydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one lactone in 10 parts of B. 17d-(2i-carb0xyethyl) QflJIfi-epwcy-I7B-hydr03cy- 2-hydroxymethyleneandrost-4-en-3-one lactone sodio' de rivativa-An anhydrous solutionof 9 parts of l7oz-(2- carboxyethyl) -9;8',11}8-epoxy 17fi-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3- one lactone in parts of benzene-is added to a suspension of 8 parts of sodium methylate in 72 parts of dry benzene; Approximately .108 parts of ethyl format'e is then introduced; and after-'3 days at room temperatures, the resultant mixture is filtered. The tan-solid recovered thus is Washed with ether and dried in air. This mate .2-hydroxymethyleneandrost-4- n-3-one' lactone sodiode- 'rivative. It has the formula v v 2a-methylandrost4-en-3-one lactone.---A mixture of 20 parts of l7u-(2-carboxyethyl) 95,11 8 epoxy 17/3-hydroxy-Z-h-ydroxymethyleneandrost-4-en-3-one lactone sodio derivative, 44 parts of methyl iodide, 13 parts of freshly ignited potassium,carbonate, and 130 parts of anhydrous acetone is heated at the boiling point under reflux with agitation for 23 hours. The mixturev is then chilled and taken up in 1300'parts of ether. The ether solution iswashed first with water; then several; times with aqueous 4% sodium "hydroxide" (until the'washi ng s afe' colorless), and finally withivvater' fa'gaiii.- The sold-'- stripped of solvent by vacuum-distillation."*Tlieanior parts of methanol. To this ,solutionis added a solution of 6 parts of sodium hydroxide in 6 parts ofwater. The resultant mixture is heated at'the boiling point under re- "flux for 10 minutes and then poured into 300 parts of water. Just suflicient dilute hydrochloric acid is'thereupon introduced to start precipitation, at which point dilute acetic acid is added until the pH drops to 6.0. The tan precipitate thrown down isfiltered off, washed with water, and dried in air. This material is 17a-(2- carboxyethyl)-9B,1l 8-epoxy 1 7B-hydroxy Zkx-methyIahdrost-4-en-3-one lactone. It has the formula 2a-methylandrost-4-en-3-one lirctr'ma-To a solutionof 1 26Vparts of'anhydrous hydrogenfluoridgin 45 parts of redistilled tetrahydrofuran is addedfwith agitation at temperatur s ..,O. l iQf 7 1 I l in"..- l i fi m-1 epoxy-'1'ffi hydroiry ia methylandrost in 140 parts of redistilled fch a are maintained at the prescribed temperature-with agitation for approximately 10. minutes, then allowed to warm to to 0 and held in this range for 3 hours. The resultant solution is""diluted;with 3 volumes of chloro form; and this solution 'in turn, -is successively washed with water, aqueous dilute sodium bicarbonate, and finally water again The solution is then dried' over an,-

hydrous sodium sulfateand stripped of solvent by vac- V uum distillation. The amorphous'res'idue thusobtained iscrystallized from ethyl acetate and then'from acetone to give l7ar-(2-c arboxyethyl) -9u-fluoro$ 11fi'l7;8-dihydroxy-Z -methylandrost-4-ep- -one lactone r neltingin the ph'ous yellow solid obtained asa residue is dissolved :iri' 50 '5 methylandrost-4-ena3-onel lactone for the 5 parts of 9abromo-1'Za-(2-carboxyethyl) 115,17fl-dihydroxyandrost- 4-en-3-one lactone called for in Example 2 affords, by

thevprocedu're there detailed, l7m-(2-carboxyethyl)- 9afluoro-2a-methylandr6st=-4-ene-3fl;1 15,17 9 triol lactone;

2 5 of the formula Example 40 170: (2 carbo xyethyl) 9a fluoro 11,8,175 di hydroqcyandrost-4-en-3-oue -lact0ne.-To a solution of 24 parts; of anhydrous hydrogenfluoride in parts of a redistilled tetrahydrofuran is added, with agitation at temperatures of the order of during roughly 3 min- I then dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and stripped of solvent by vacuum distillation. The crystalline residue is recrystallized froin'ethyl acetate to give the desired 170: 2 carboxyethyl) 9oz fiuoro' 11,18,175- dihydroxyandrost-4-en3-one lactonemelting at 27 6-278 (with decomposition) lljhe product has the formula utes, a solution of 1 part of 17a-(2-carboxyethyl.)-'9fl, a11p epoxy-17fl-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one lactone in parts of vcold redistilled chloroform. The reactants are then allowed to warm to" 5 (to 0 and are maintained in thisjrange for 3 /2 hours Approximately 3 volumes of chloroform is thereuponintroduced; and the resulting solution is washed successively with water, aqueous dilute sodium bicarbonate, and water a gai 1 v The solutigngis 7 17B-dihydroxyandrost-4-en-one laetone in 560 parts of methanol is added, with agitation at 35, a solution of parts of sodium borohydride in 160 parts of methanol. Solution is complete within a few minutes. Agitation is continued for approximately /2 hour, during which time the reaction temperature is allowed to fall to around 25. A solution of 80 parts of acetic acid in 300 parts of Water is then cautiously introduced during 5 minutes. The resultant mixture is thereupon concentrated to approximately /2 its original volume by vacuum distillation and then diluted with approximately 5 volumes of water. A second concentration to V2 volume by vacuum distillation is carried out, this time precipitating a granular solid which, recrystallized from aqueous ethanol, melts at l43-4146. The product thus obtained is 17a- (2 7 carboxyethyl.) 900- fluoroandrost 4 ene 318, 116, 17fi-itriol lactone, of the formula Exam pl 7 17a (2 carboxyethyl) 9a fluoro 17,9 hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,11-dione lactone.-A solution of 2 parts of 17cc (2 carboxyeth-yl) 9oz fiuoro 11fi,175 dihydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one lactone in 100 parts of pyridine is slowly added with agitation at approximately 20 to a pyridine-ehromic acid complex prepared by cautious mixing of 2 parts of chromium trioxide with 50 parts of pyridine. The resultant mixture is maintained at approximately 20 for 15 minutes, and then allowed to stand at room temperatures overnight. The mixture is then extracted with ethyl acetate in the presence of 250 parts of Water. The ethyl acetate extract is successively washed with water, dilute hydrochloric acid, and water again; dried Over anhydrous sodium sulfate; and stripped of solvent by vacuum distillation. The residue, rc-

crystallized from a mixture of ethyl acetate and hexane,

alfords the desired 17 ot-(2-carboxyethyl)-9a-fluor0, 17B"- hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,1l-dione lactone, which melts at 23'8239 and has the formula Example 8 9m bromo 17oz (2 carboxyethyl) 175 hydroxyandrost 4-ene 3,11 dione lactone.-Substitution of 90abromo 17oz (2 carboxyethyl) 115,175 dihydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one lactone for the .17a-(2-carboxyethy1)- 90c fluoro 11/3, 17 8; dihydroxyandrost 4 en '3 one lactone called for i-n Example 7 affords, by the procedure there detailed, 9c -hromo 17a=(2-carboxyethy1)a17/8-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,1I-dione lactone, of the formula What is claimed is: 1. A compound of the formula wherein R is selected from the groupconsisting of hy- Q drogen and the methyl radical, X is halogen of atomic number lessthan 53, and Z and Z" are selected from the group consisting of carbonyl and hydroxymethylene.

wherein X is ha'logen of atomic number less than 53.

3. 17a (2 carboxyethyl) c fluoro 1119,17B- dihydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one lactone.

4. 9oz bromo 17oz (2 carboxyethyl) 1113,175- dihydroxyandrost-4-en 3-one lactone.

5. A compound of the formula wherein X is halogen of atomic number less than 53.

6. (2 carboxyethyl) 9a fluoroandrost -,4-

ene 313,113,17fl-trio1 lactone.

7. A compound of the formula wherein X is halogen of atomic number lessthan UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE- CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PatentNo. 2 925 416 February 16V 1960 Edward- A. Brown et al0 It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 6 lines 10 to l4, the lower left-=hand portion of the formula should appearas shown below instead of as in the patents column 7 line 1,, for FlYB-dihydroxyandrcst 4en=one" read 17B-dihydroxyandrest-d-e'n-3-one column 9 lines 1 and 2-, for "hydr0xy4-ene-ere ad -.-hydroxyandrost-=4=ene== o Signed and sealed this 23rd day of August 1960.

(SEAL) Atte-st:

KARL H AXLINE ROBER E, wATse'N Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A COMPOUND OF THE FORMULA 